The Ruffwear Story: From a Collapsible Dog Bowl to Trail Gear
Ruffwear began in 1992 with a collapsible dog bowl Patrick Kruse made after a mountain bike ride. The company launched in 1994, moved to Bend, Oregon in 1998 and grew into boots, harnesses, jackets and life jackets.
In short
- Ruffwear was founded by Patrick Kruse, who prototyped a collapsible fabric dog bowl in 1992 after a friend tried to water her dog from a plastic bag on a California bike ride.
- The bowl launched at a trade show in 1994, where one buyer ordered 8,000; Ruffwear counts its years from then and marked 30 in 2024.
- Patrick ran Ruffwear from his garage as its only employee, then moved it to Bend, Oregon in 1998, where it is still based.
- Boots that stay on (1995), the Web Master harness (1996), the first dog jacket (1998) and the Float Coat all began as fixes for real problems on trails and rivers.
- Ruffwear designs and tests in Bend; its 2023 Impact Report says over 95% of its products are made in Vietnam, the rest in Taiwan and China.
Ruffwear started with a bowl. In the summer of 1992, founder Patrick Kruse was mountain biking in California's Los Padres National Forest with his friend Liz and her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Moqui. Liz poured water into a plastic bag for Moqui, who took a few slurps and walked off, leaving Liz holding a bag she could not set down. "You need to do something about this," she told Patrick. Here is the story as Ruffwear tells it, with the gear that grew out of each chapter.
How Ruffwear began: a plastic bag and a fabric bowl
Patrick's question was simple: if fabric can keep water out, why can't it keep water in? Days later he had a prototype collapsible bowl. He had the skills for it. At 12 he sewed his first dog pack from army surplus bags, and before Ruffwear he ran Salamander Paddle Gear, a kayaking gear business that introduced him to technical fabrics.
After 16 months of design and testing, Patrick took 15 bowls to the Outdoor Retailer trade show in 1994 and set them on a table in his kayak-gear booth. A buyer ordered 8,000, and Ruffwear says that order put a new category on the map: outdoor dog gear. The bowl, now called the Quencher, still folds flat, with a water-resistant shell and a waterproof lining.
The logo came in 1993, a year before the launch. It was inspired by Ursula, an abandoned junkyard dog found in downtown Los Angeles. Her guardian was Patrick's friend Lynne, and Ursula's story is why Ruffwear partners with groups that support dog adoption.
From a one-person garage to Bend, Oregon
Patrick worked from his garage as Ruffwear's only employee, designing, selling and packing every order. In 1997 he drove 40,000 miles in a year with his Australian Cattle Dog, Otis, meeting customers at shows and festivals. In 1998 he moved to Bend, Oregon, for its mountains, rivers and high desert, and hired his first employees.
Ruffwear grew by reinvesting profits instead of borrowing, an approach it calls Business Unusual, and it is still privately held. By 2016 it had 38 people and gear in 53 countries; in 2024 it celebrated 30 years, or as it puts it, 210 dog years.
Boots that stay on: the 1995 idea behind every pair
In 1995 a retail partner challenged Patrick to make dog boots that stayed on. Boots then fastened high on the leg and slid off as it flexed, so Patrick secured his around the narrowest part of the leg, just above the paw. The first pairs used repurposed tire rubber. Later came a sole with chevron-shaped lugs, inspired by the footing of cloven-hoofed animals like goats, plus breathable mesh and polyester straps that do not soak up water the way nylon does.
| Boot | Made for | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Grip Trex | Hiking and trail running | Breathable mesh upper and a lugged rubber outsole |
| Polar Trex | Snow, ice and slush | Zip gaiter over the strap and an ice-grip outsole with aluminum flakes in the rubber |
| Summit Trex | Everyday walks on pavement and grit | Weather-resistant ripstop upper and a non-marking rubber sole |
Three Ruffwear boots for three kinds of ground
Measure paw width, front and back, before choosing a size.
The boot from the 1995 challenge
The Grip Trex carries the original idea: a strap at the narrowest part of the leg and a lugged sole for dirt and rock.
- Breathable mesh for warm-weather trails
- Hook-and-loop strap made to stay put
The harness family: Web Master, Front Range and friends
Ruffwear's first harness came out of a pack. At the 1996 Kern River Festival someone asked for a dog pack with removable saddlebags, which became today's Palisades. When Patrick saw customers unclipping the saddlebags and using the harness on its own, he made it a product: the Web Master, nicknamed the Houdini in prototyping because escape-artist dogs could not wriggle out, thanks to a second strap behind the rib cage. It adds a padded handle, five points of adjustment and an aluminum V-ring inspired by cargo aircraft hardware.
The Front Range followed in 2014. It keeps the Web Master's way of managing webbing, adds a large padded chest panel and drops the extra back material the Web Master needed only to carry the Palisades pack. There are two leash points: an aluminum V-ring on the back and reinforced webbing at the chest for redirecting dogs who pull. The team chose the hardest of three prototype builds because it was the most comfortable, and switching from diamond-cut to standard ripstop cut fabric waste from about 25% to under 5%. Our guide to front-clip and back-clip harnesses explains where to clip.
| Harness | Leash points | Handle | A good fit when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Range | Back and chest | No | You want one comfy harness for daily walks |
| Web Master | Back | Padded | Your dog is a Houdini or you hike and scramble |
| Flagline | Chest and two on the back | Padded | You want a lighter lift-and-assist harness |
| Hi & Light | Back | No | You want the lightest feel for running |
Ruffwear harnesses, from everyday to trail
Sized by girth; see all dog harnesses.
The everyday classic
The Front Range keeps only what a walking dog needs from the Web Master's design.
- Back clip for strolling, chest clip for redirecting
- Padded chest panel and reflective trim
The original Houdini
Ruffwear's first harness, with the extra strap behind the rib cage that earned its nickname.
- Padded handle for a lift up a ledge
- Five points of adjustment
Packs for day trips to multi-day hikes
The Palisades is the pack from that 1996 request; the Approach suits day hikes and light overnights, the Front Range Day Pack shorter day trips.
Weather and water: the first dog jacket and the Float Coat
In 1998, facing Bend's long Cascade winters, Patrick set out to beat the knit sweaters of the day, which shredded in the brambles. That first jacket, the K9 Overcoat, became today's Overcoat Fuse, with a harness built in after Ruffwear saw customers clipping leashes to the old jacket's light loop, which was never strength-rated. Ruffwear also says it was the first company to size dog gear by body measurements rather than breed and weight. Our winter coat guide covers fit and coverage.
From rain shell to puffer
A jacket with a built-in harness, a waterproof raincoat and two insulated coats. More in dog coats and jackets.
The Float Coat came from a close call. On a 17-mile kayak run down the upper Kern River, Patrick lifted Otis aboard above a big drop and Otis slipped right out of his flotation jacket. Patrick scooped him up, and back at camp no strap adjustment would keep Otis in, so Patrick designed a life jacket a dog could not be poured out of. Today it has soft PVC-free foam placed for a natural swimming position, a sturdy lifting handle and reflective trim.
For water days
A life jacket with a lifting handle and a soft floating disc for fetch.
Born on the Kern River
The life jacket Patrick designed after Otis slipped out of another one. It is a backup, not a babysitter: stay close whenever your dog swims.
- Handle placed to lift a dog out of the water
- Foam shaped to move with your dog
Seen after dark: reflective webbing and the Beacon
Ruffwear designer Monica found a way to weave reflective thread into jacquard webbing, where the pattern is woven in rather than printed, so it cannot fade or rub off. Mixing reflective and plain threads means two tensions on one loom, so the looms run slower. The patterns echo light in real places, like sunset behind the Three Sisters near Bend. Rope pieces borrow from climbing: kernmantle rope, locking carabiners and sliding fisherman's knots. For the darkest stretch of a walk, the Beacon is a small clip-on LED light with steady, flashing and slow-flash modes. See our night walk checklist for the full routine.
Reflective collars, a rope leash and a clip-on light
Reflective weaves, climbing-rope pieces and the Beacon safety light.
How Ruffwear tests its gear and what it supports
Fabrics, webbing and buckles go to an accredited third-party lab for abrasion, tear and color tests; finished gear gets pull, drop and cycle tests in Ruffwear's own lab in Bend; then working dogs try it in the field. After 9/11 Ruffwear helped get dog boots to search teams. Since 2008 its team has taken part in the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Dog School in Alta, Utah, and its gear became a go-to uniform for avalanche dogs at US ski resorts. In 2019 it made the UniFly Guide Dog Harness.
Ruffwear joined The Conservation Alliance in 2007, launched an adoption program with Best Friends Animal Society in 2015, reached 100% renewable electricity for its US operations in 2021 and stopped making gear with materials containing intentionally added PFAS by January 1, 2024. Its rubber toys are made from natural rubber.
Camp and play
A packable foam pad and a natural rubber throw toy with a rope handle.
Is Ruffwear made in the USA?
Ruffwear is an American company that designs and tests its gear in Bend, Oregon, but manufacturing happens overseas. Its 2023 Impact Report says over 95% of its products are made in Vietnam and the rest in Taiwan and China. Check each item's label for where it was made.
Questions people ask
Where did Ruffwear originate?
Ruffwear began with a 1992 idea on a mountain bike ride in California's Los Padres National Forest. Founder Patrick Kruse built it in his garage, launched the bowl in 1994 and moved Ruffwear to Bend, Oregon in 1998.
Who founded Ruffwear?
Patrick Kruse founded Ruffwear. He had sewn his first dog pack at 12 and run a kayaking gear business before inventing the collapsible dog bowl, and he was Ruffwear's only employee until 1998.
Is Ruffwear made in the USA?
Ruffwear designs and tests its gear in Bend, Oregon, but makes it overseas. Its 2023 Impact Report says over 95% of products are made in Vietnam and the rest in Taiwan and China.
Where is Ruffwear's headquarters?
Bend, Oregon, in the high desert near the Cascade volcanoes. Patrick Kruse moved there in 1998, and the building houses Ruffwear's in-house test lab.
What was Ruffwear's first product?
A collapsible fabric food and water bowl, now called the Quencher. Patrick Kruse prototyped it in 1992 and launched it in 1994.
Who is the dog in the Ruffwear logo?
Ursula, an abandoned junkyard dog found in downtown Los Angeles; in 1993 she inspired the logo. Her guardian was Patrick's friend Lynne. Her story is why Ruffwear supports dog adoption.
About the numbers
- Ruffwear, Our Story (Our Path timeline), read 2026-10-06: Patrick Kruse; first dog pack at 12; 72-foot ketch in the Caribbean; Salamander Paddle Gear; 1992 the spark in California's Los Padres National Forest and the prototype collapsible bowl; 1993 Ursula, junkyard dog found in downtown LA, Lynne, logo; 1994 15 bowls at the Outdoor Retailer show, an order of 8,000, new category of outdoor dog gear; 1994 working from his garage as sole employee; 1997 40,000 miles with Otis; 1998 move to Bend, Oregon and first employees, profits reinvested rather than debt; 2001 dog boots for search teams after 9/11; 2007 The Conservation Alliance; 2008 Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Dog School at Alta, Utah, avalanche dogs wear its gear; 2009 Conservation Canines; 2015 Best Friends Animal Society, Ruff Adventure Dog Adoption Program; 2016 38 pack members, products in 53 countries; 2019 UniFly Guide Dog Harness; 2021 100% renewable electricity for US operations; 2023 PFAS phased out; 2024 30 years, 210 dog years
- Ruffwear, The Bowl That Started it All: The History of The Quencher, read 2026-10-06: Summer 1992 ride with Liz and her Rhodesian Ridgeback Moqui; the plastic bag; Liz's challenge; 16 months of research, development and testing; 1994 trade show launch and the 8,000-unit order; water-resistant shell and waterproof lining
- Ruffwear, 31 Years on the Trail: Celebrating Ruffwear's Journey, read 2026-10-06: Since 1994; 1995 first dog boots; 1996 second-generation pack from a request at the Kern River Festival; 1996 Web Master from the pack's harness base, nicknamed Houdini; 1998 K9 Overcoat evolving into the Overcoat Fuse
- Ruffwear, The History of the First Ruffwear Dog Boots, read 2026-10-06: 1995 challenge to make boots that stay on; fit at the narrowest part of the leg; repurposed tire rubber; footwear designer and outsole maker; chevron lugs inspired by cloven-hoofed animals; breathable mesh, toe guard, polyester straps replacing nylon
- Ruffwear, A Harness for Houdini Dogs: The History of the Web Master, read 2026-10-06: Roots in 1996; second girth strap behind the rib cage; name from the early internet; handle, light loop, V-ring inspired by cargo aircraft, now aluminum; five points of adjustment
- Ruffwear, The Craftsmanship Behind the Front Range Harness, read 2026-10-06: Released 2014; chest panel, back trimmed, V-ring and front attachment; three prototype builds, chose the most complicated because most comfortable; diamond ripstop about 25% waste, now under 5%; polyester ripstop since spring 2020
- Ruffwear, A Lineage of Performance Jackets for Dogs, read 2026-10-06: 1998 first jacket, the K9 Overcoat, now the Overcoat Fuse with harness built in; knit sweaters that shredded; leashes clipped to the non-rated light loop; first company to introduce dog sizing like human size charts
- Ruffwear, The Story Behind the Float Coat Life Jacket, read 2026-10-06: Otis the Australian Cattle Dog slipped out of a flotation jacket on a 17-mile run of the upper Kern River; PVC-free foam, handle, reflective trim, D-ring
- Ruffwear, Threads of Innovation: How Our Reflective Webbing Is Made, read 2026-10-06: Designer Monica; reflective thread woven into jacquard webbing; two thread tensions; looms run slower; patterns inspired by light in landscapes including the Three Sisters
- Ruffwear, Behind the Design of the Polar Trex Dog Snow Boots, read 2026-10-06: Boots sold in sets of two because front paws are often wider than rear; polyester hook-and-loop under a zip gaiter; ice outsole compound with aluminum flakes
- Ruffwear, How We Test Our Gear, read 2026-10-06: Accredited third-party lab tests for abrasion, tear and color stability; in-house pull, drop and cycle testing in Bend; field testing with working dogs
- Ruffwear, Our Pack and Sustainability Journey pages, read 2026-10-06: Since 1994; based in Bend, Oregon; Business Unusual; privately held, reinvests profits; rubber toys made from natural rubber
- Ruffwear, 2023 Impact Report Recap, read 2026-10-06: Over 95% of products manufactured in Vietnam, the remainder in Taiwan and China; materials sourced in Vietnam where possible; no intentionally added PFAS from January 1, 2024
- Google search 'Ruffwear brand story' and 'Ruffwear founded', read 2026-10-06: People also ask: Where did Ruffwear originate? Is Ruffwear made in the USA? Is Ruffwear a Canadian brand? Where is Ruffwear headquarters?
